New Apple Set-Top Box Hinted In Comcast/Time Warner Cable Filings

Comcast and Time Warner Cable have made filings explaining to regulators why their merger should not be struck down. In February Comcast announced its intention to acquire time Warner Cable in a stock-for-stock transaction, with the former picking up TWC’s 284.9 million shares to the tune of an equity value going north of $45 billion. There’s much speculation that regulators might not be open to the idea of Comcast and TWC being merged, and they have the power to strike the deal down. Comcast seems to have revealed something about the next Apple TV in one of the documents in its filings.

David L. Cohen, an executive vice president at Comcast, writes in the document that even while Apple offers an online video service, it continues to “explores development of an Apple set-top box.” Recent rumors suggest that Apple has long been in talks with Comcast for an internet TV streaming service that would go through its set-top box. These talks have apparently slowed down due to Comcast’s bid for TWC.

Other rumors suggest that Apple’s new set-top box was due be launched as soon as this month, but the deal has pushed it back. It remains unclear if a deal with Comcast will ever be reached, but the more Apple waits on this, the more its rivals will benefit. The TV market is already filled with similar products from Google, Roku and even Amazon. Apple surely needs to step up its game.